Highlights
- Beautifully presented in factory-correct OEW with black leather
- Previously owned for 37 years by a Jaguar factory engineer
- Exhaustive restoration over seven years
- Rebuilt engine, gearbox and drivetrain
- Matching numbers
- Little used since completion so remains at a very high level
- Recent £4,000+ investment including whitewall tyres, wire wheels and new hood envelope
- Comprehensive history file including detailed restoration photographs
- Only three previous keepers
The Appeal
The final evolution of Jaguar’s lauded E-Type is the one that best exploited its GT pretensions. With longer doors for easier access, more spacious and comfortable cabins and, of course, one of the greatest engines ever built in the form of Jaguar’s silky V12, these cars are finding renewed interest amongst collectors.
This 1972 RHD OTS is one of the nicest we’ve seen in a while. Classically finished in Old English White over black leather, the same as it left the factory, it is a resplendent example. That is due to the meticulous restoration conducted by the previous keeper, who had owned the car for 37 years. The work took seven years and is evident when you study the photos closely. It included rebuilding the engine, gearbox and drivetrain and extensively renovating the body and interior. We are told that this owner covered just 2,000 miles after completion.
The current keeper acquired the car last year. He has continued this process by investing £4,000 in new wire wheels, splined hubs and new bearings, new whitewall tyres, new hood envelope, a wind break, inertia reel seatbelts and a new battery. The car is part of a collection and is only for sale as it is not getting the use the vendor feels it deserves.
The vendor says:
“The car is wonderful but sadly is not getting used. We have too many classics - 8 cars - and we have decided to slim down the collection to say 4 or 5 cars. The needs to be enjoyed and not stored for months on end. The car genuinely merits the title ‘concours’ and must be one of the very best available anywhere.”
History and Paperwork
- First registered 21st November 1972
- Factory JDHT certificate confirms authenticity as shown
- Retains its correct colour scheme
- Factory built in late 1972
- One of only 1,872 RHD OTS Series 3 cars built
- Three previous keepers
- Current keeper since November 2024
- Previously owned by a Jaguar factory engineer for 37 years
- Comprehensive 7-year nut and bolt restoration by the previous owner
- Sparingly used for the last 16 years, covering only approximately 2,000 miles
- Always dry stored and never used in rain
- Extensive history file including detailed restoration photographs
- £4,000 of recent work summarised below
- Factory handbook
- Photographs of the restoration
Recent work since November 2024:
- New whitewall tyres
- Splined hubs and bearings
- Chrome wire wheels and spinners
- New mohair tonneau
- Folding windbreak
- New inertia reel seatbelts
- Replacement battery
The Condition
- Factory-correct Old English White paintwork
- Vendor describes paintwork as in excellent condition
- Signs of use are limited and include a small chip to nearside rear arch
- Bodywork is straight and very well kept with flush panel fit as shown
- Underside equally well kept with vendor reporting it is in superb condition
- Subframes reported to be in excellent order
- The vendor states it's difficult to find a fault anywhere on the exterior
- Interior presents well throughout in black leather which is factory correct
- All instruments operate correctly we are told
- Factory oil pressure gauge functioning as intended
- Cooling fans activate at the correct temperature
- Recently fitted with new chrome wire wheels and spinners
- New whitewall tyres recently installed
- New mohair hood envelope and folding windbreak
- Series 3 leather-rimmed three spoke steering wheel
- Beige boot trim and black cabin carpeting
- Chromework presents well across exterior of car
This attractive Series 3 roadster was a clear labour of love by the previous keeper. He owned it for 37 years and completed a seven year restoration 2,000 miles ago. The extent of that work is evident from the photographs, and the quality too. Take a look at the door fit and the underside condition to see what we mean.
The interior presents well too, continuing the factory specification with its black leather and correct leather-rimmed wheel.
Since acquiring the the car last November the vendor has improved the cosmetics with a set of new chrome wire wheels, shod with new whitewall tyres. He has also added a windbreaker, new mohair hood envelope with tonneau and inertia reel seatbelts.
The Mechanics
- 5.3-litre V12 285bhp engine
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Engine was rebuilt during the restoration
- Gearbox and drivetrain were also rebuilt as part of the restoration
- Recently fitted with new splined hubs and bearings
- New battery recently installed
- The vendor informs us that the car has been sparingly used, covering only around 2,000 miles in the last 16 years
- Engine bay which the vendor describes as 'superb'
- Run correct oil pressure and cooling fans cut in correctly we are told
The 5.3L V12 engine is reason alone to want a Series 3 car. Jaguar claimed that you when it was set up properly you could balance a coin on the top and it wouldn’t topple. Likely you could do exactly that with this car because the engine was fully rebuilt during the restoration. The previous keeper covered 2,000 miles since completion so it remains in great running order.
The same is true of the gearbox and drivetrain, which were also rebuilt. The vendor reports that the oil pressure runs at the correct factory level and the cooling fans cut in and out correctly.
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